title: [Is pulmonary interstitial pathology an entity?].
abstract: Pulmonary interstitial diseases cannot be defined as an entity because of the existence of multiple pathogenic factors, and of various radiological expressions, as well as of the involvement of different types of inflammatory cells. Moreover, several hypotheses can be considered to explain the fibroblastic hyperplasia often present in this condition. It could be the result of an excess of secretion of growth factors, of an enhanced sensitivity of the target cells to these factors, of a decrease of factors inhibiting fibroblast replication, or of a relative deficiency of monokine antagonists. A similar analysis could be applied to chemotactic factors for fibroblasts as well as for those stimulating collagen production.
authors.affiliation: Division de Pneumologie, Hôpital cantonal universitaire de Genève, Suisse.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Junod
mesh_terms: D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
vernacular_title: La pathologie interstitielle pulmonaire est-elle une entité?